| Heart
Attack Warning Signs:
Although some
heart attack signs and symptoms are obvious, many times the person who is
experiencing a heart attack is not sure what's happening and waits too long to
seek help. The following are some of the signs that may mean a heart attack is
happening:
Chest
Discomfort: Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the
chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or that goes away and comes back. It
may feel like an uncomfortable pressure, fullness or squeezing sensation in the
upper body. Pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or
stomach are common.
Shortness of Breath: This often appears along with chest
discomfort, but it can occur before discomfort begins.
Other
Signs:
Cold sweat, lightheadedness or nausea.
If you or
someone you're with experiences chest discomfort, particularly with one or more
of the other signs listed above, do not wait longer than 5 minutes
before calling 911 for help.
Stroke
Warning Signs:
A stroke
strikes someone every 45 seconds and kills more women than men annually. Even
if the stroke does not kill you, the effects can be devastating. You may
experience problems walking, talking, reading or eating, in addition to other
physical or mental disabilities. Sometimes people recover with therapy but many
do not.
Time lost
is brain function lost in a stroke emergency! Every minute you wait to get
help, more brain cells die. There is a window of only 3 hours after the onset
of symptoms to get to a hospital to be assessed as a candidate for a
clot-busting drug that may hep reduce the devastating effects of many
strokes.
Learn to
recognize the following signs of a stroke and call 911 immediately if you or
someone else experiences any of these signs:
* Sudden
numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, particularly on one side of the
body
* Sudden confusion, difficulty speaking or understanding
* Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
* Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
* Sudden severe headache with no known cause
|
